Department of Health and Social Care

Antimicrobials and Diagnosis: NHS Trusts

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) diagnostic services, and (2) antimicrobial stewardship, in NHS health trusts.

Lord Kamall: In October 2020, Professor Sir Mike Richards published Diagnostics: Recovery and Renewal: Report of the Independent Review of Diagnostic Services for NHS England. The review identified the need for investment in and reform of diagnostics services, with recommendations including the separation of acute and elective diagnostics, supported by the establishment of community diagnostics centres (CDCs). We have now made £2.3 billion available for diagnostic services in line with these recommendations, including the launch of up to 160 CDCs by March 2025. A copy of the review is attached.The UK Health Security Agency published English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR). Report 2020 to 2021. The report assessed national data on antimicrobial prescribing, resistance, and stewardship activities. The 2020/21 report highlighted that routine antimicrobial stewardship activities had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a number of positive outcomes were also identified, such as increased use of tests to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections. A copy of the 2020/21 ESPAUR report is attached.Diagnostics: Recovery and Renewal (pdf, 1140.3KB)ESPAUR Report 2020 to 2021 (pdf, 3895.5KB)

Forced Labour: Supply Chains

Lord Anderson of Ipswich: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any health equipment with constituent parts made using forced labour has entered the UK supply chain since January 2020.

Lord Kamall: Suppliers appointed to the NHS Supply Chain framework contracts, which supply the majority of medical goods and services into the National Health Service, must comply with the Labour Standards Assurance System or they can be removed from consideration for future opportunities. If there is an allegation of modern slavery practices against a company supplying medical goods or services into the United Kingdom, these are investigated. The Department does not have a record of any breaches of the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 since January 2020. Information on procurement by NHS trusts and foundation trusts is not held centrally.

Department for Education

Pupils: Mental Health

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comparative (1) happiness, and (2) mental distress, experienced by pupils in (a) community schools, (b) foundation schools, (c) voluntary schools, (d) free schools, (e) academies, and (f) grammar schools.

Baroness Barran: The department does not hold the specific data on the happiness and mental wellbeing of pupils in different types of schools.Pupil mental health and wellbeing are a priority for the government and the department gets data and information from a wide range of sources and bring those together into regular State of the Nation reports. Our most recent State of the Nation report, published in February 2022, found that following a reduction in measures of wellbeing in 2020 there were some signs of recovery in the last academic year, responding to improvements in pandemic conditions. However, it also reports data that shows while rates of mental health problems in children and young people have not continued to increase from 2020, they remained at elevated levels in 2021.The report also supported the value of being in school for supporting wellbeing. Older children and young people, females, those with existing mental health needs and for some measures those with disadvantaged backgrounds or special educational needs were more likely to show greater impacts.The full report can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-nation-2021-children-and-young-peoples-wellbeing.

Teachers: Training

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further steps will be taken to ensure that teachersare trained to identify dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Baroness Barran: Education is a devolved matter, and the response will outline the information for England only.The department is committed to ensuring that all pupils can reach their potential and receive excellent support from their teachers. Published on 28 March 2022, the Schools White Paper sets the foundations to support the aims and ambitions of the SEND Review.The department’s reformed initial teacher training (ITT) core content framework and the new Early Career Framework (ECF), both developed with sector experts, will equip teachers with a clear understanding of the needs of children with SEND.All teachers are teachers of SEND. ITT courses must be designed so that trainee teachers can demonstrate that they meet the Teachers’ Standards at the appropriate level. This includes the requirement that all teachers must have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND.Consideration of SEND underpins both the ITT core content framework and ECF. The ECF is designed to support all pupils to succeed and seeks to widen access for all.Once teachers qualify and are employed in schools, headteachers use their professional judgement to identify any further training. This includes specific specialisms for and relevant to individual staff, the school, and its pupils.The department has funded the creation of a suite of condition specific videos to provide helpful pointers, techniques, and advice on inclusive teaching strategies for newly qualified teachers. The videos cover dyslexia and dyspraxia amongst a range of specific learning needs.

Free School Meals: Migrants

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families on 24 March (HCWS714) regarding children with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), whetherthe reference to "all families with NRPF" means that no family that meets the income and capital rules will be excluded from entitlement to free school meals; and what steps they are taking to inform schools of the decision to extend eligibility for free school meals permanently.

Baroness Barran: All children from families with no recourse to public funds will be entitled to free school meals. This is subject to income thresholds where appropriate.This change will come into effect for the start of the summer term, commencing in April 2022. The department will shortly be providing updated guidance which will be communicated to relevant stakeholders.

Free School Meals

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to raise the income threshold at which households become eligible for free school meals to £20,000 a year.

Baroness Barran: Eligibility for free school meals (FSM) has been extended several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century, including the introduction of universal infant free school meals, and further education free meals.The department is also permanently extending FSM eligibility to children from all groups with no recourse to public funds. This will come into effect for the start of the summer term.In 2018, the government introduced new eligibility criteria for families on Universal Credit, following a consultation in 2017. It was estimated that this will be more generous in its reach by 2022, in comparison to the legacy benefit system. The government included generous protections, which mean any family eligible for FSM transitioning to Universal Credit from a legacy benefit will continue to have access to FSM even if they move above the earnings threshold.The department continues to work closely with other departments across government in considering eligibility for FSM. This has included working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to consider all the evidence and recommendations of the National Food Strategy. The Government Food Strategy White Paper will be published in due course.

Free School Meals

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to lift the limitations which prevent access to free school meals on the grounds of immigration status.

Baroness Barran: The government will be extending free school meal eligibility to children from all households with no recourse to public funds. I refer the noble Lord to the statement I made on 24 March for more information on this: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-03-24/hlws695. This builds on our existing benefits-related criteria which ensures 1.7 million children receive a free nutritious school meal each day, and our universal infant free school meal policy which has been in place since 2014, benefitting a further 1.3 million infant children.

Schools: Ukraine

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide figures to local councils regarding how many school spaces they should make available for Ukrainian refugees.

Baroness Barran: The department stands with Ukraine. We continue to work across government to ensure we are supporting all arrivals in the UK from Ukraine to give them the same access to education and childcare as a UK citizen.The department believes that the best place for all children to be educated is in schools. Local authorities will work with families to enable all children to attend school in the local area as soon as possible, even if these places are not in the immediate vicinity of their accommodation. We understand the challenges of finding suitable school places for new arrivals and will work with local authorities, where necessary, to make this as smooth as possible.

Teachers: Qualifications

Baroness Wilcox of Newport: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many schools do not have a qualified teacher in a subject they offer.

Baroness Barran: Legislation does not specify that teachers must have a degree in a particular subject or discipline. It is the Teachers’ Standards that specify the subject knowledge required for the award of qualified teacher status. All trainee teachers must meet these by the time they complete their training.Of the 2,957 state-funded secondary schools in England that supplied data on curriculum subjects taught and the subject of qualifications held by their teachers, there were 1,256 schools, equivalent to 42%, where at least one subject was taught for which none of its teachers held a relevant post A level qualifications in that subject. The most common subjects where no teachers in a school held a relevant post A level qualification in the subject were: computing (293 schools); Spanish (271); media studies (225); ICT (206); religious education (153); citizenship (105) and engineering (105).To reduce burden during the COVID-19 outbreak, schools were not required to provide information on teacher qualifications in 2020. Therefore, the information provided relates to the November 2019 School Workforce Census.Information on subjects taught and teacher post A level qualifications is published in the ‘School Workforce in England’ statistical publication at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Hong Kong: Security

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with their counterparts in Hong Kong regarding the targeting of UK citizens under the National Security Law.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We do not comment on individual cases. The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with her international counterparts on issues relating to Hong Kong and we continue to work intensively within international institutions to call on China to live up to its international obligations and responsibilities. We will continue to bring together our like-minded partners to stand up for the people of Hong Kong, to denounce the violation of their rights and freedoms.

Hong Kong: Security

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect UK NGOs that are potentially subject to prosecution under Hong Kong’s National Security Law.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong indefinitely. Until there are clear and robust safeguards that can prevent extradition from the UK under the new national security legislation, the treaty will not be reactivated.

China and EU Countries: Extradition

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of extradition treaties between EU Member States and the People’s Republic of China on freedom of movement for UK citizens in Europe; and what discussions they have had with European counterparts on this matter.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong indefinitely. Until there are clear and robust safeguards that can prevent extradition from the UK under the new national security legislation, the treaty will not be reactivated.Extradition treaties between EU Members States and China are a matter for those countries to determine. Freedom of movement between the UK and the EU ended on 31 December 2020.FCDO Travel Advice pages remain under constant review to ensure they hold the most up-to-date information and advice on the most relevant issues for British nationals. We will continue to ensure our Travel Advice reflects the current situation and any assessment of risk for British nationals.

Hong Kong: Security

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the new Hong Kong National Security Law, and (2) the blocking of Hong Kong Watch’s website in the territory; and whether they will update their travel advice for Hong Kong.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The National Security Law (NSL) constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. It violates the high degree of autonomy of executive and legislative powers and independent judicial authority, provided for in the Joint Declaration. The UK is a fierce champion of freedom, democracy, human rights and adherence to international rules so we will continue to make clear our strong opposition to the NSL.The UK has already taken a number of actions in response to developments in Hong Kong. These include introducing a new bespoke immigration path for British Nationals (Overseas) (BNOs), suspending our extradition treaty with Hong Kong indefinitely, and extending our arms embargo on mainland China to Hong Kong.FCDO Travel Advice pages remain under constant review to ensure they hold the most up-to-date information and advice on the most relevant issues for British nationals. We will continue to ensure our Travel Advice reflects the current situation and any assessment of risk for British nationals.

Hong Kong: Security

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the blocking of Hong Kong Watch’s website in that territory, what assessment they have made of the extraterritoriality clause of the Hong Kong National Security Law.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Article 37 of the National Security Law says that the law applies to any Hong Kong Permanent Resident worldwide who commits a crime under the law. Article 38 says the law applies to "a person who is not a permanent resident of the region" wherever in the world they infringe the law.

Hong Kong: Sanctions

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce a country-specific sanctions list for Hong Kong.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We will continue to consider designations under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations. It is not appropriate to speculate who may be designated under the sanctions regime in the future. To do this could reduce the impact of the designations.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the current level of benefits is sufficient to meet the rising costs of living.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Secretary of State undertakes an annual review of benefits and pensions using the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September. This is the latest figure that the Secretary of State can use to allow sufficient time for the required legislative and operational changes before new rates can be introduced at the start of the following April. All benefit up-rating since April 1987 has been based on the increase in the relevant price inflation index in the 12 months to the previous September. The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. These are global challenges, and the government has taken action to support families with help worth over £22 billion in 2022-23. The £22bn of extra support includes the £9.1bn energy package, the Universal Credit taper rate reduction from 63% to 55%, the increase in the Universal Credit work allowance by £500 per annum and the doubling of the Household Support Fund to £1bn by providing an extra £500 million from April 2022, on top of the £500 million already provided since October 2021.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Avian Influenza

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of avian flu were reported in the UK in the years (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, and (4) 2022 so far.

Lord Benyon: In 2019, one case of notifiable avian influenza was confirmed in the UK, a case of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) H5N3 in England. During the 2020/2021 avian influenza outbreak, between November 2020 and March 2021 there were 26 cases of notifiable avian influenza confirmed including in England one case of LPAI H5N2, one case of LPAI H5N3, one case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and 18 cases of HPAI H5N8; in Scotland one case of HPAI H5N8 and one case of HPAI H5N1; in Wales one case of HPAI H5N8 and in Northern Ireland two cases of HPAI H5N8. To date in the 2021/2022 avian influenza outbreak, between 26 October 2021 and 30 March 2022, 109 cases of notifiable avian influenza have been confirmed, all HPAI H5N1, including 89 cases in England; 9 cases in Scotland; 5 cases in Wales and 6 cases in Northern Ireland.

Avian Influenza

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of outbreaks of avian flu.

Lord Benyon: The UK is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of Avian Influenza with (as of 30 March 2022) 109 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 confirmed in poultry & captive birds (89 in England, 5 in Wales, 9 in Scotland, 6 in Northern Ireland). To date, 2.4 million birds have been culled and disposed, a small proportion of overall poultry production (c.20m birds a week). Through the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) found dead wild bird surveillance scheme, there have been 841 findings of avian influenza in wild birds, in 242 locations involving 39 bird species in 73 counties. All findings in wild birds have been the HPAI H5N1 strain with the exception of a single finding of HPAI H5N8. This includes carcases collected and submitted to APHA for testing up to the 21 March 2022. The UK Health Security Agency has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said that, on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. In addition to the disease control impacts outlined above, following the introduction of mandatory housing as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone in force across the UK, the 16 week “grace period” during which eggs from birds which were intended to be free-range may be marketed as free-range even though they are housed, expired at 00:01 on 21 March 2022. In most cases the eggs from continuously housed birds from the end of the grace period would meet the criteria to be sold as “barn eggs”. Changes to labelling and point of sales information are required to reflect this change in status.

Avian Influenza

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much compensation was paid to farmers in the UK in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, and (3) 2021, in respect of avian flu.

Lord Benyon: Compensation payments are devolved. In line with the Animal Health Act 1981, compensation is payable for healthy birds only. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. In 2019, there was a single case of notifiable avian influenza confirmed in England. As the amount of compensation that individual owners receive is not disclosed, the compensation paid has been combined with payments made in 2020. In 2020 (including 2019) £103,000 compensation was paid to poultry owners in England. In 2021, £2.65 million compensation was paid to poultry owners in England.

Avian Influenza

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask Her Majesty's Government what contingency plans they have made in the event of further widespread outbreaks of avian flu.

Lord Benyon: Defra’s objective in tackling any outbreak of avian influenza is to eradicate the disease as quickly as possible from the UK poultry and captive-bird population and regain UK World Organisation for Animal Health disease-free status. Defra’s approach is set out in the Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain (copy attached to this answer) and supported by the United Kingdom contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals (copy attached). In Great Britain the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) leads Government action on animal disease control and has outbreak response plans in place. These include measures to contract companies to support eradication and cover such matters as the deployment of non-Government vets and experts in culling and disposal of birds. APHA also works closely with other agencies in the Defra group to provide additional capacity. Notifiable avian disease control strategy for GB  (pdf, 697.3KB)UK contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases (pdf, 550.9KB)

Home Office

Police: Road Traffic Control

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 24 March 2022 (HL6847), whether there have been any occasions since April 2019 where they have drawn the attention of a Police and Crime Commissioner or Chief Constable to (1) poor, or (2) commendable, performance standards relating to a road safety issue.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: There has been no contact between the Government and Police and Crime Commissioners or Chief Constables on performance standards relating to a road safety issue.

Body Searches: Children

Lord Laming: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that 5,279 children have been stripped and searched by Metropolitan Police Officers; and what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) such action was appropriate and essential, and (2) children’s safety and wellbeing is considered.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Conducting a strip search is an operational matter for the police. Strip search is one of the most intrusive powers available to the police and its use should not be a routine occurrence.Any use of strip search should be carried out in accordance with the law and with full regard for the dignity and welfare of the individual being searched – particularly if the individual being searched is a child. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Codes of Practice govern how the police should deploy this power.If the police judge it operationally necessary to strip search a child, this must be carried out by officers of the same sex, in private and with an appropriate adult present unless both the child and the appropriate adult agree otherwise and in line with safeguarding procedures.

Cybersecurity: Hong Kong

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposed legislation to introduce a register of lobbyists working on behalf of hostile states will include individuals who work on behalf of the government of Hong Kong.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government recently consulted on a range of legislative proposals to counter state threats to ensure our security services and law enforcement agencies continue to have the tools they need to effectively tackle state threats.The Home Office is reviewing and considering all responses to the public consultation and will bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Overseas Students: Sponsorship

Lord Johnson of Marylebone: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) allocations function as a de facto cap on the number of international students that can be sponsored for study in the UK.

Lord Johnson of Marylebone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the legal basis for the imposition of limits on the numbers of Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) allocations to individual institutions seeking to admit international students.

Lord Johnson of Marylebone: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) allocations were given to holders of student sponsor licences (1) by institution, and (2) in total, in each of the last five years.

Lord Johnson of Marylebone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies issued were unassigned (1) by institution, and (2) in total, in each of the last five years.

Lord Johnson of Marylebone: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many sponsoring institutions have unsuccessfully requested increases to their Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) allocations.

Lord Johnson of Marylebone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what their planned allocation of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will be for (1) the next year they can be sought, and (2) each of the next five years.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office continues to welcome international students and we place no limit on their numbers.In February 2021, the UK Government published an update to the International Education Strategy, recommitting to the ambitions to sustainably increase international students in the UK to 600,000 per year by 2030.New sponsors can apply for an allocation of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) of up to 50 percent of their current student body. Subsequent annual requests can be made for up to a 50 percent increase on a CAS allocation for sponsors who have assigned more than 50 CAS in the previous year.There is no upper limit on the number of CAS which can be allocated across the system, or the number of providers able to gain a sponsor licence. Sponsors are able to submit additional in-year requests on an exceptional basis and there are no limits on the total number of CAS to be allocated in any given year. These requirements are set out in the published Student Sponsor guidance.In the case of R (on the application of New London College Limited) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) the Supreme Court found the general principle of mandatory requirements for sponsors and actions they must take to maintain a licence were ruled to be lawful and derived from the authority of the Immigration Act 1971, which would include requirements on the numbers of CAS allocated to sponsors.Data on CAS allocations for specific institutions is not currently published. However, we do produce data at detailed sponsorship dataset which breaks down the numbers of CAS used by types of educational institution.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Refugees: Ukraine

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much fundingthey will provide (1) to local authorities, and (2) to other partners, to ensure that Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK receive psychological therapy that is (a) culturally sensitive, and (b) appropriate for people who may have suffered trauma.

Lord Harrington of Watford: Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the government is providing funding to local authorities at a rate of £10,500 per person to enable them to provide support to families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities.Local authorities will be central in helping families access public services and other support, including access to trauma counselling. The £10,500 funding under the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be un-ringfenced, enabling local authorities to use it as they see best to target local needs. Guidance has been published online at: www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils.If Ukrainian arrivals experience symptoms of poor mental health, they can access evidence-based mental health treatment via their GP or local Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services. A welcome guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK, which includes information on accessing Mental Health Services and is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian, has been published at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/welcome-a-guide-for-ukrainians-arriving-in-the-uk.HL7177 Homes for Ukraine Guidance for Councils (docx, 27.7KB)

Refugees: Ukraine

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide Ukrainian refugees coming to the UK access to (1) education, and (2) language, services.

Lord Harrington of Watford: Ukrainians arriving under Homes for Ukraine Scheme will have access to education on the same footing as UK nationals and we are providing local authorities with £10,500 per person to help support them to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into our communities.Councils are required to provide school places for children of school age and will be paid additional funding to support this. Details of the funding has been published online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councilsUkrainians aged 19 or over will be able to access adult education, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The Welcome Guide for Ukrainian guests provides information on education courses: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1064315/Ukraine_Welcome_Guidance.pdfHL7309 Homes for Ukraine Guidance for Councils (docx, 27.8KB)

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to connect potential sponsors and applicants to the Ukrainian Sponsorship Scheme who may not have a pre-existing relationship.

Lord Harrington of Watford: The initial phase of the Homes for Ukraine scheme is designed for sponsors with a named Ukrainian beneficiary. We are actively exploring ways in which we can build connections between UK Sponsors and Ukrainians that do not yet know each other, including working with NGOs. We are funding a pilot scheme for a digital matching tool and casework service that the NGO ReSet are testing.

Refugees: Ukraine

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the protocol for applicants of the Ukrainian Family Scheme and the Ukrainian Sponsorship scheme if applicants have no formal Government identification.

Lord Harrington of Watford: If a Ukrainian person does not have a valid passport, they can attend a Visa Application Centre in Europe to undertake biometrics checks before applying for a visa. Further information, including the location of centres, has been published online at: www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-visa-under-the-ukraine-sponsorship-scheme HL7299 Apply for a Visa Ukraine Family Guidance (docx, 20.3KB)

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Lord Field of Birkenhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to writing to households who are subject to the under-occupancy penalty, inviting them to sign up to the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Lord Harrington of Watford: This is a huge humanitarian crisis, and we are urging all members of the British public to come forward and help where they can. There will be no limit or cap on the sponsorship route. Anyone in the UK with a spare room or home can use this service, as long as they can offer accommodation for at least 6 months which we know is a significant ask. Potential sponsors can register their interest at: www.gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine. We are exploring further steps we can take to promote the scheme.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Ukrainian refugees are being accommodated in each of the UK's four nations as a result of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Lord Harrington of Watford: I refer the noble Lord to the initial data published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukraine-family-scheme-application-data . Additional data is currently being quality assured and it remains my intention to publish this data shortly. This is further to my answer to the Noble Lord Ponsonby during my statement to the Lords on the issuing of visas on 31 March 2022, where I reiterated my intention to write to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee with details of the number of arrivals under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.HL7171 Ukraine Family Scheme Data (docx, 16.4KB)

Refugees: Ukraine

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking tohelp providevolunteers willing to host Ukrainian refugees with the names and details of refugees they could be hosting.

Lord Harrington of Watford: The initial phase of the Homes for Ukraine scheme is designed for sponsors with a named Ukrainian beneficiary. The second part of the scheme will provide the opportunity for sponsors without a named beneficiary. We are actively exploring ways in which we can build connections between UK Sponsors and Ukrainians that do not yet know each other, including working with NGOs. We are funding a pilot scheme for a digital matching tool and casework service that the NGO ReSet are testing. If successful, this could be scaled up at pace.